Release Date: 02/13/09 (Limited)
The Class, directed by Laurent Cantet and based on the book by François Bégaudeau, is a critically acclaimed French film that won the top prize at the Cannes film festival. It follows a teacher whose classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods. It is filmed as if it’s a documentary giving it a very realistic feel, and making it much easier to connect with its characters.
François Martin played by François Bégaudeau and his fellow teachers prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighborhood. Prepared with the best objectives, they brace themselves to not let discouragement stop them from trying to give the best education to their students. As amusing and inspiring as the teenaged students can be, their difficult behavior jeopardizes François’ enthusiasm for his low-paying job. François insists on an atmosphere of respect, and gets little in return. Each student has their own storyline there’s tough guy Souleymane (Franck Keita), whose home issues may be responsible for his bad behavior. Khoumba (Rachel Régulier) is a student who was in Mr. Marin’s class the previous year but now her attitude has changed over the summer. Wey (Wey Huang) is one of the class’ most gifted students, but his mother is facing deportation for being an illegal immigrant. There are many more students each a little different then the next, and each storyline brings a different layer to the classroom.
The Class relies on heavy dialogue, there is not much else going on in this film except for class discussions, meetings, and parent teacher conferences. It all depends on how you relate to the students and the most with its main character Mr. Martin. The film kind of dragged for me until a great scene with Mr. Martin in a heated argument with the students until Souleymane the bad seed of the class gets up and a confrontation occurs. This is where the story really picks up and it was the most suspenseful scene of the film.
From then on I was very into the story and after it was finished I was pleased with the message the filmmakers were trying to say, but I was also a little disappointed that they left many questions unanswered, as I was waiting for them to bring to a close the storyline of some of the students. Many are saying that this film will compete with Waltz with Bashir for best foreign film, but I do not agree. The Class was a very good film but not a great one, and not quite MADE in this wiseguys book.
IMDB: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Moviewiseguys: 7.5/10